Jun 12, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 12th June, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 12th June 2017 Archives NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Science and Technology‐ developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology A shift towards Electric Vehicles(EVs) In news: In May 2017 Nagpur became the first Indian city to have an electric cab fleet—with about 100 EVs from the Mahindra stable and around 100 e-rickshaws from Kinetic linked to the Ola transport aggregator platform. Also, the state-run power giant NTPC set up its first Electric vehicle(EV) charging stations in Delhi and Noida. Policy shifts: Power minister Piyush Goyal has announced that government officials and agencies will soon be using only EVs. Public buses are also expected to go electric. Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has promised a national EV policy before the end of the year The government’s think tank, Niti Aayog, has already put out a road map for India’s mobility transformation that has three core elements: “shared”, “electric”, and “connected”. The goal, according to the power minister, is to have no diesel or petrol car sales in the country by 2030. This marks a sharp shift from the current policy that incentivizes both hybrid vehicles – which combine fossil fuel and electric power – and electric cars. NITI Aayog's mobility plan: In its report Niti Aayog recommends- The government must subsidize the EV industry while penalizing conventional cars. Taxes and interest rates for loans on EVs should be lowered. The sale and registration of conventional cars should be lowered Using taxes from diesel and petrol car sales to create electric charging stations. It also suggests setting up “a manufacturer consortium for batteries, common components, and platforms to develop battery cell technologies and packs and to procure common components for Indian original equipment manufacturers.” NEMMP & FAME India Scheme: In 2015, as part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), the government had launched the FAME India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) scheme with an aim to promote eco-friendly vehicles, offering incentives on electric and hybrid vehicles. The FAME India scheme is aimed at accelerating sales of eco-friendly vehicles to up to 7 million vehicles by the year 2020. However, sales of EVs have been abysmally poor. Mainstreaming electric vehicles will require : An overhaul of the country’s energy and transport infrastructure. For example, EV charging stations will have to be set up on a war footing. Electricity generation will have to improve significantly even as its piggybacks on the push for solar energy. EV technology (especially the battery) will have to become much cheaper before it can perform well in a price-sensitive market like India. If these challenges can be tackled effectively and India can leapfrog to EV technology, then of course, the benefits to be had are numerous. Benefits of EVs: Environment-friendly EVs will reduce air pollution and thus contribute to the fight against climate change. As per NITI Aayog's report EVs will help in cutting down as much as 1 gigatonne (GT) of carbon emissions by 2030 Lower India’s dependence on imported oil Will cut India’s energy demand (from the road sector for passenger mobility). Save the country $60 billion in energy bills on petrol and diesel by 2030(As per Niti Aayog) EVs efficient—with regenerative braking capturing energy otherwise wasted and also due to the inherent efficiency of motors, especially at low speeds The focus should not only be on EVs: Apart form EVS there also other technology options which shouldn't be ignored. Like, Hydrogen-powered fuel cells It offer an equally eco-friendly option. Both are zero emission, and the hydrogen-powered fuel cells can in fact be recharged faster. They also give more mileage than the lithium-ion batteries commonly used in EVs today. CNG vehicles They are cheap, almost as clean as EVs, and the related infrastructure is already in place. The government should not be deciding the winner? Issue: Governments generally do not have a good track record when it comes to picking tech winners. For example, After the 1970s energy crisis in the US, the Carter administration pumped millions of dollars into thermal solar technology which did not yield any viable commercial results even as the old photovoltaic cell technology continued to evolve. Later, corn-based ethanol was all the rage and the government again put good money into developing a market for it but eventually it too collapsed. These examples indicate there are many risks associated with the government picking the winner—a job that is better left to the market and industry. Conclusion: The government should have a role. However, instead of trying to pick winners, the government should focus on building an enabling business environment that supports research and innovation. Thus, instead of pumping money into one project or firm, it should support clean energy research in general. That way, the government does its part in steering the policy ship towards clean energy while still being technology-agnostic. Connecting the dots: With NITI Aayog's mobility transformation plan a shift in government's strategy towards Electric Vehicles(EVs) is visible. Discuss the challenges involved in adopting the EV technology in Indian context ad also the benefits such transformation would provide. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Science and Technology‐ developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology Harnessing wind power through Kites Introduction: Wind energy in India has seen steady development in the last decade. With 32,279.77 MW of installed wind generation capacity (compared to 12,288.83 MW of solar power), India is one of the leading generators of wind energy worldwide. Yet, due to certain constraints, and more recently the more competitive rates in solar energy, there are concerns that the share of wind energy may decline. Benefits of wind power over solar power: Unlike non-storage solar energy, wind turbines are not affected by night and day. Challenges in generating wind power: Generation of electricity from wind energy depends on both the season and geographical location. Wind farms require massive areas of land. In India, wind turbines produce 70 to 80 per cent of their generation in a span of six months. Moreover, to calculate the annual kilowatt per hour (kWh) produced from a turbine, one has to calculate the estimated number of hours of wind at a certain height as well as its speed. On an average, in India, the plant load factor (PLF) is only around 20 to 30 per cent. Hence, with a 25 per cent PLF, a 1.5 MW turbine would produce around 3,285,000 kWh in a year. Below a wind speed of around 30 mph, however, the amount of energy generated would be quite small. Government's policy towards wind power: The government has announced that its target for wind energy generation by 2022 is 60,000 MW. What needs to be done? Harnessing the wind energy potential will require huge investments as well as the requisite land. However, this problem may be resolvable through the use of a new technology – scores of kites to generate wind energy. This technology is believed to not only cut the cost of generating wind energy but also enhance the efficiency quotient. How does it work? The basic idea is to locate the kites, which are essentially light and controllable aerodynamic flying devices, in a formation at heights of around 750 metres and more in order to harvest the strong and consistent winds available in that region of the atmosphere (wind velocity at those heights is twice that at the ground level) and thus generate low-cost energy. The system is operated in periodic pumping cycles, alternating between reel-out and reel-in of the lines attached to the kite and the drum on the ground. During reel-out, the kite flies in figure-eight manoeuvers at high speeds of 70 to 90 km/h, creating a high traction force which is converted into electricity by the drum and the connected generator. Once the kite reaches the maximum height, it is de-powered by releasing the steering lines so that the whole wing rotates and aligns with the wind. Using the drum/generator module as a winch, the kite is then pulled back to the initial position to start the next pumping cycle. De-powering reduces the traction force during reel-in by 80 per cent, thereby allowing less energy to be consumed as against the energy generated during the reel-out cycle. Once the descent is complete, the kite is allowed to climb once more, where it generates electricity once again. This allows these kites to be more efficient than traditional wind turbines. Source:https://www.thememo.com/2017/05/30/kite-wind-farms-take-off-in-uk-as-fut.... Benefits of using kite wind: According to some estimates, the cost of generation from these kites could be around 50 to 60 per cent less than from traditional wind farms, both on- and off-shore. Moreover, these kite power systems can be flexible. As modular, small-scale power production plants, they can be applied to single houses, for autonomous electricity production as well as for remote areas and villages not yet connected to the power grid. At the same time, they can also serve as huge power plants generating several megawatts and even gigawatts. For example, an Italian firm, KiteGen, has developed a prototype with a capacity for producing 27 MW of peak power. Some of the advantages kite power systems have over conventional turbines include negligible noise emission and bird hits, near invisibility, and ability to withstand storms. Moreover, they do not need huge concrete foundations and tonnes of steel for the tower and the blades. As a result, they do not require scarce metals or rare earth elements like neodymium for the magnet in a wind power plant, thereby making them far more environment-friendly than their conventional counterparts. Wind kites also require less power to operate. Challenges: Some technical issues will have to be resolved before these kites can replace traditional turbines. A major challenge is lightning, which could damage the small computer placed inside the kite. Given the height at which the kites would be flying, the location of these wind farms will have to be carefully planned so as not to interfere with or hamper the flight paths of aeroplanes. Conclusion: Although India is no longer deemed power-deficient, it is by no means energy secure as millions of people do not have access to grid connections. As connectivity increases, the demand for power will surge. Moreover, initiatives like Make in India, Power for All Campaign for total rural electrification by the end of 2017, and the drive to ramp up the use of electric vehicles in place of fossil fuel-based vehicles, among others, will see a quantum jump in energy consumption. While evolving solar technology can fill some of the gap, the government should also look at other new energy technologies across the energy spectrum to meet its energy generation target. India’s record in wind energy development is good. But the existing technology is fast becoming outdated. Evolving technologies like kite wind should therefore be considered. Connecting the dots: The government has set a target of generating about 60 GW of wind energy generation. Discuss the challenges involved in relying on wind turbines and how kites can be used to harness wind power. MUST READ Neighborhood first in Nepal Hindu Six days of war 50 years of occupation Hindu Leave them alone Hindu Economic forecasting is not a science Hindu The crops of wrath Indian Express The right balance-China, Pakistan and India Indian Express A great figurehead Indian Express Whose fight is it anyway? Indian Express The great highway loot Indian Express Why are telecom firms in the doldrums? Livemint The evolving state of Indian states Indian Express Entrepreneurship and jobs-Think small Livemint Angry Bharat Business Line

Jun 12, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 10th June, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 10th June 2017 Archives NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 3: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Understanding the agitating farmers In news: Farmers in two of the largest states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have resorted to agitation. The protests have come soon after the Uttar Pradesh government waived farm loans earlier this year, setting off similar demands in other States. Farmers from Kerala in April, 2017 staged protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar carrying skulls of fellow farmers who have committed suicides. Farmers' demands: Full waiver of farm loans. Hikes in the minimum support price for agricultural produce. Writing off of pending electricity bills. Government's response: Maharashtra government promised to waive farm loans of small and marginal farmers worth about Rs. 30,000 crore and set up a State commission to look into the matter of raising the MSP for crops. The Chief Minister also promised that buying agricultural produce below their MSP would soon be made a criminal offence. Issues: Indian farmers faced two consecutive years of drought in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Such an occurrence — two droughts in a row — only happened five times since 1870, and on three occasions in independent India: The mid-sixties, the mid-eighties and now. Despite this rare farmer tragedy, we did not observe any farmer riots during the recent drought years. More than 5,500 farmer suicides were recorded in 2014 and the figure rose at least 40% in 2015, with Maharashtra contributing the most, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.In Maharashtra, which witnessed the highest number of farmer suicides between 2014 and 2015. Between 2014 and 2015, the state saw an 18 per cent jump — from 2,568 to 3,030. The National Crime Records Bureau attributed the reasons to crop failure, failure to sell produce, inability to repay loans, and other non-agriculture factors such as poverty and property disputes. Pic credits: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/farmer-suicides-up-42-between-2014-2015/articleshow/56363591.cms Why are farmers agitating? Socio-economic reason: The socio-economic explanation is that nobody wants to be a farmer anymore. Because it is unremunerative, and relatively hard physical work. The children of farmers aspire for a well-paying urban job. But the economy is not producing enough jobs to accommodate the migrants from farmer families. This leads to frustration, despair, unrest. Hence, the riots. The rural-urban wage gap is wide at 45%, almost four times that of China. The share of farming in GDP is under 14%, although more than half of India’s 1.25 billion people still depend on it. Demonetisation: The Centre’s decision to demonetise high-value currency notes in November last year came as a severe jolt to farmers as cash is the primary mode of transaction in agriculture sector. Pricing of agricultural produce: Steep fall in the prices of agricultural goods: The price slump, significantly, has come against the backdrop of a good monsoon that led to a bumper crop. The production of tur dal, for instance, increased five-fold from last year to over 20 lakh tonnes in 2016-17. Irrespective of price fluctuations, MSPs are supposed to enable farmers to sell their produce at remunerative prices. But procurement of crops at MSP by the government has traditionally been low for most crops, except a few staples such as rice and wheat. This has forced distressed farmers to sell their produce at much lower prices, adding to their debt burden. In Madhya Pradesh, this year was the second year of a bumper onion crop with no buyers. Farmers were forced to sell produce at for Rs 2 to 3 per kg as the state government delayed announcing procurement price of Rs 8 per kg. 33% of onion procured by the government rotted in absence of adequate storage facility Our farm subsidy policy encourages the production of only low-value staples, such as rice and wheat, and the output of fruits and vegetables — that more Indians are eating and farmers producing — is not covered by the government’s minimum support price. Much of the farm distress sweeping India now stemmed from a glut of potatoes, onion and tomatoes. Agriculture still at mercy of monsoon rain: For far too long, farming has been at the mercy of nature, especially the June-September monsoon rain. Agriculture in India is facing a tough time because of its dependence on the monsoon. Over 50% of the crop area does not have any irrigation facility and almost three-fourth of the annual rainfall is concentrated in four months a year, between June and September. A deficit monsoon for two consecutive years in 2014 and 2015 and unseasonal showers ahead of the winter harvest in 2015 have hit the farmers hard. Entire south India is bearing the brunt and Tamil Nadu is facing the worst drought in 140 years. Poor productivity: The use of technology is patchy, and only one-tenth of every rupee the government spends on rural areas goes to improving productivity — which is why farmers in India grow 46% less rice an acre than their Chinese counterparts. Agricultural market- Yet not reformed: The monopoly of traders over local agricultural markets is perpetuated by law, which bars farmers from selling directly to consumers. This kills any chance of farmers getting a fair price, lining the pockets of commission agents instead. Politicisation: The cardinal malaise lies in successive governments treating agriculture as a source of votes and not an engine of growth Why farm loan waivers is not a solution? Farm loan waivers are only a “temporary necessity” to address the agricultural crisis in the country and not a permanent solution to the problem, according to MS Swaminathan, agriculture scientist and the architect of India’s Green Revolution in the 1960s. With poor extent of indebtedness and reported increase in suicides among farmers in distress, loan waivers appear as the easy solution to the problems of the farming sector. But it comes at a cost. Issues related to loan waiver - Farm loan waivers disrupt “credit discipline” among borrowers as they expect future loans to be waived as well. It does increase the problem of moral hazard by penalising sincere and law abiding farmers. It gives rise to a tendency to default if the loan waivers are not a one-time solution but keep appearing every decade. It certainly leads to a deterioration in the performance of banks but also has an impact on credit off-take and repayments. It was the same approach of writing off loans of big corporate defaulters which has led to a situation of unprecedented NPAs in the banking system. But it also penalizes the small and marginal farmers who are more dependent on non-institutional sources of loan such as the local moneylender. The interest on these loans is higher but these are excluded from any loan waiver scheme. Way ahead: The old, labour-intensive methods must give way to technology for efficiency and higher yield Pricing and subsidy mechanism must be overhauled. The focus should be more on making the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana a success rather than demanding farm loans waivers from banks. The government should look at diversifying the cropping pattern and developing new technology to fight drought. Bringing green revolution to eastern India(BGREI) must be implemented in true spirit. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the new crop damage insurance scheme approved by the Union cabinet in January 2016, is also a vast improvement on the old crop insurance model in vogue since 1970s. The new scheme which has the lowest premium so far has proposed use of remote sensing, smart phones and drones for quick estimation of crop loss and speedy claim process. The focus should be more on making this a success. Conserving water, improving the irrigation facilities, and developing agriculture markets and competition can be the building blocks for growth in agriculture and mitigating farmers’ woes. State governments are barking up the wrong tree by resorting to loan waivers. The only long-term solution is to gradually align crop production with genuine price signals, while moving ahead with reforms to de-risk agriculture, especially by increasing the crop insurance cover. Expediting steps to reform the Agricultural Produce Market Committee system and introduce the model contract farming law would go a long way to free farmers from MSP-driven crop planning Conclusion: To be sure, India is reforming parts of its economy. But not farming. If farmers are to escape poverty, farming needs to become more like manufacturing: Teched up operations, free as far as possible from imponderables, churning out quality produce that fetch the right price. It is imperative that policymakers and analysts understand the causes behind the riots in order to best insure society, and farmers, from economic doom. In the past, a single season of dry spell was enough to send the economy into recession. Now failed monsoons trigger localised distress. That’s an improvement. Still, far too many farm households remain too poor. And unless the rural economy is unshackled from a time and policy warp, our dream of double-digit economic growth will remain just that: A dream. Connecting the dots: Recent riots by farmers from states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh shows how despite continuous efforts by the government the state of agriculture remains grim. Discuss what are the reasons behind rioting farmers and what should be done to improve livelihood of farmers and Indian agriculture. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. A calibrated approach to reforms It was a common thing to make bureaucracy responsible for inexplicable delays in policy formulation and implementation. The bureaucracy was seen as the biggest stumbling block for a policy-driven progress. However, in the hindsight, it has been now validated that India’s calibrated, less hurried approach to opening up the economy in certain sectors was against the convention of the time. But the reality is now different. Though it is always tempting to suggest that policy makers should hit the reforms accelerator, the complex present is the truth. Making the right policies There is no merit in following the herd in thinking and implementing the popular policy choices. Prudent policy making steers clear of such approaches. Rather, there is a need to evaluate the policy choices on the merits of the argument. Though some might think it as a delaying tactic, but given that policymaking is both an art and a science, the policy maker should take all the arguments and choices available to make an informed decision. As economist Dani Rodrik argued “When knowledge is limited, the rule for policy makers should be, first, do no harm”. This can be explained as When India approached IMF in 1991 for loans to tide over its balance of payments crisis, there were conditionalities wherein IMF called for liberalisation of India’s current and capital accounts. Yet, India moved towards current account convertibility, it wasn’t fast on capital account convertibility which was conventional thing to do. However, when India was recovering from her 1991 financial crisis, another crisis was in the making in the East Asian Countries which had already embraced full capital account convertibility. There was a heavy capital inflow in these countries which when coupled with fixed exchange rate regimes resulted in asset bubble burst in 1997. Thus, post the crisis, there was new policy understanding about the difference between the theory and practice of capital account liberalisation and how free movement of short-term capital flows had destabilising effect on individual economies. Contrastingly, India’s approach of gradual lifting of capital controls was considered sustainable. Sub prime crisis During the global economic recession of 2008, India was amongst the less affected countries. This was because till them RBI had not allowed Indian banks to invest in synthetic structured products like MBS, CDOs, and CDS. The irony is in the fact that these products were rated AAA despite having sub-prime American housing loans. A conservative approach towards such instruments saved India from the direct contagion risk of the great recession whereas US and European banks had invested heavily in subprime tranches and hence were largely affected. The lesson learnt was- earlier, accepted wisdom that free capital flows across borders would usher in higher investments and work as tonic for sick economies proved not completely true. In 2012, IMF came around to the view that robust institution building should precede capital liberalisation. Also, that free capital flows at times, might do more harm than good. Trade liberalisation The theories mending the trade liberalisation policies has changed over the time period. Earlier the convention was to protect infant industry by giving state support through high import tariffs or domestic subsidies until the industries have matured and attained economies of scale. During WWII, US had one of the highest import tariffs in the world. Now, the conventional wisdom has changed over time. With the era of globalisation and incoming of WTO agreement, trade facilitation has changed. India has two examples of diametrically opposite views made by the policymakers which resulted in two different results which hold a lot of value. When India signed the Information Technology Agreement (ITA-I) in 1997 under WTO’s Singapore Ministerial Conference it removed tariff protection for IT hardware products covered in the agreement. Thus, electronic hardware imports became cheap which led to huge influx of Japanese, Korean and Chinese manufactured IT hardware. This negatively impacted Indian nascent electronics manufacturing as other countries had built their capabilities previously whereas in India, the infant IT manufacturing industry was barely born. The effect today is such that Indian presence in this industry is hardly felt. On the other hand The auto and auto-ancillary sector in India was protected through high import duties and other conditions in terms of mandatory localisation provisions and investment restrictions This led to healthy growth of auto sector in India. Today, India is a hub of world class auto and auto parts sector. This led to slowly withdrawal of most restrictions except high duties on fully assembled vehicles. Conclusion There was a time when India was considered as a slow liberaliser and high import tariff country. But om infact it was this organised policy making and long term vision which has helped India in most sectors. Today the world is once again turning to high import duties to protect their domestic jobs and also restrict China from spreading its tanctacles of becoming manufacturing hub in Asia. India is in a good position in critical areas and sensitive sectors. Though it is not that policy reforms should continue at slow rate only, but to consider diverse developmental strategies possible while making a policy for a complex society. Connecting the dots: Though it is considered that fast paced reforms are key to faster economic growth, the reality has been different. Do you agree? discuss in detail how reforms in policies should be shaped. MUST READ Fault lines in the fields The Hindu The arc to Tokyo The Hindu Proper protocol The Hindu The Kerala model Indian Express UK's election of delusions Indian Express Time for reflection, fellow doctors Indian Express Uncertainty in Britain Business line   Three crucial stumbling blocks in farming Business line  

Jun 11, 2017 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – NLP Learning Strategy Effectiveness – Inspirational & Educative Articles

NLP Learning Strategy Effectiveness: To continue with the example of reading, writing and recollecting information; let us look at how the technique of NLP can be used to better understand the effectiveness of these actions. First try and observe the trigger for action. Is it fear, excitement or simply a routine? Understanding this is very important as this gives you an idea of why you do what you do. If the trigger is fear, then probably you will not be able to wholeheartedly dedicate yourself with passion. Observing the tiny internal thought patterns that trigger action will help you to unlock the underlying systems and processes of learning. NLP can become an indispensable tool on your journey towards effectiveness and success. Here is an example of learning strategy from Microdot: A good way to ensure success when rising to meet a challenge such as learning a new skill is to follow these five principles for success:- Know your outcome Take positive action Have enough sensory awareness to know if you're being effective Have behavioral flexibility Operate from a physiology and a psychology of excellence A systematic and scientific approach to learning will increase your chances of success dramatically. Instead of approaching learning haphazardly and wasting enormous amounts of time simply expecting results; you can focus on the strategy and approach to learning. Here are few key points to remember about NLP Learning Strategy: There is a clear and definite patter to our learning The patterns are embedded in our thought process Key to unlocking the patterns is observation Use a test operate and test exist strategy to see if an action works Successful patterns can be cultivated To be continued….. “The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”

Jun 10, 2017 Important Articles

IASbaba's ALL INDIA PRELIMS OPEN MOCK TEST-2 LIVE!

Hello Friends, As promised, here is the 2nd MOCK TEST for your practice (Well before time :) ) In case you missed Mock-1- Click Here Attachment to Question PDF and OMR Sheet is given below. Carefully Read The Guidelines STEP 1- Taking the Examination Download the Question Paper and OMR and take both the print outs If not do otherwise as you like Fill the OMR details correctly Use Stop Watch- Take this exam as you will take Prelims within stipulated time, 2 Hours. Set the Stop Watch for 2 hours and finish on time Be Honest with your effort and do not try to fool yourself Do not rush in filling OMR. This is crucial After finishing the paper, take a pic of OMR and upload it in the comment section (Must) to have the accountability and follow up of STEP-2 If no OMR, then write on a sheet of paper and upload or anyway you like. STEP 2- Assessing your Result Solution will be uploaded around 9 PM With Solution link, a Google Form will be uploaded. You have to fill the Form details which will ask for - Few details and No of Questions (Attempted), No of Questions (Unattempted), No of Correct Answers, No of Incorrect Answers and Final Score Calculate your Score on above Parameters and fill the Google Form. Be cautious while filling the form, since once submitted it won't be available. We will release the Cut Off based on the scores Kindly Note that Mock-2 Paper has been intentionally designed in the Static Vs Current Ratio-80:20 (on prior notice to all the users) QUESTION PAPER-DOWNLOAD OMR SHEET- DOWNLOAD STEP 3- Answer Key SOLUTION– Download Here ENTER YOUR PERFORMANCE AND GET YOUR RANK– Click Here   Rank, Cut Off  and Analysis- Click Here   Do share your FEEDBACK on the Mock Paper after the exam :)   All the best IASbaba

Jun 9, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 9th June, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 9th June 2017 Archives ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. The growth track is near In news: Recently, the National Income for 2016-17 were released. The data forms a part of the 'Provisional Estimates of Annual National Income 2016-17 and Quarterly Estimates of Gross Domestic Product 2016-17' released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation India's per capita income grew by 9.7 per cent to Rs 1,03,219 in 2016-17 from Rs 94,130 a year ago. In 2015-16, the growth rate of India’s per capita net income was 7.4% India’s Gross National Income (GNI) at 2011-12 prices was estimated at Rs 120.35 lakh crore during 2016-17, against Rs 112.46 lakh crore a year ago. The gross value added (GVA) growth slowed sharply in the fourth quarter to 5.6 percent, compared to 6.7 percent in the third quarter. Growth in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 is also much lower than the 8.7 percent growth reported in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. Picture credit: https://quintype-01.imgix.net/bloombergquint%2F2017-05%2F96d522e0-a8cd-4370-b90b-2876649e60b5%2FGVA%20Growth.png?auto=format&q=60&w=1024&fm=pjpeg National income is hard to estimate, particularly in economies like India where the informal sector accounts for much activity and employment, thus making difficult to capture official data. The growth rate of every quarter has been sliding from the previous quarter. During Q4, only two sectors- agriculture and public administration- have shown strong growth Construction and trade, hotels, transport and communication have shown a sharp decline in Q4. These are the sectors which use cash extensively. Demonetisation impact: The overall growth rate of GDP is 6.1%, which is nearly 1% below the growth rate for the previous quarter at 7%. The liquidity crunch brought about by inadequate availability of currency consequent upon demonetisation must have impacted a lot of activities, especially such as housing and construction. No doubt, demonetisation would have had a short-term disruptive effect which would adversely affect growth. The long-term benefits in terms of a change in mindset and behaviour of people and greater use of technology-driven payments system can be analysed only in future. However, there are other factors too which had an impact in growth. Rate of Investment The most disturbing aspect of the data just released is the continuing decline in the Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) rate as proportion to GDP. It is steadily declining and in 2016-17 it fell to 29.5% from 30.9% in 2015-16. During high growth period, it was 33%. Though attempts have been made to raise public investment and also improvement in efficiency in the use of capital. This has led to significant improvements in the output of coal, power and roads. Job generation It has been modest in past few years. Growth can happen because of greater utilisation of existing capacity or new investment. For this, there is a need to bring in new investment which will push growth and generate greater employment. Of course, there will be many factors such as technology that play a key role in determining the level of employment, but the investment needs a boost. Burden of debt The Indian banks and businesses are extensively suffering under the debt burden. The health of the banking system is closely aligned to the health of the private sector business, both corporate and non-corporate. There is a need to quickly resolve the bank problems, especially the NPAs that will enable the banks to restart their lending programme in a big way and help business to embark on new investment. Policy implications For a sustained high growth, there is a need of policymakers to shift their focus towards increasing the rate of investment in India. Though FDI in India is high, the rate of growth of fixed capital formation has been weak. With the reforms agenda being pushed forward, Bankruptcy Code becoming operational, implementation of GST, these are welcome steps. The slowdown in economy will put pressure on RBI to explain its stance on tight monetary policy. The CPI has pegged inflation at 3%, well below RBI’s medium term target of 4 percent. Thus, the lower-than-expected inflation, together with weakening growth, could prompt calls for a relook at the RBI’s policy stance. Adequate remonetisation should be done quickly to eliminate the adverse effects caused by shortage of currency. Though decreased use of currency is desirable, it should not be assumed show and resultantly reduce the supply. Many of the informal sectors, rural population, poor people, senior citizens are using cash as means of transaction. Conclusion While the adverse effects of demonetisation on GDP are clearly seen, it is difficult to decipher how much of the decline in growth rate in the January-March quarter is due to demonetisation and how much due to the underlying declining trend. The macroeconomic stability parameters are in good shape with prices being in control. The central government’s fiscal deficit target is being adhered to as mentioned in budget. With the monsoons expected normal in 2017, it is the most appropriate time to convert sentiment to firm action with a big push on private investment. Along with it, social harmony and law and order also are the pre-requisites for faster growth and hence shouldn’t be ignored in race to achieve high growth. Connecting the dots: What are the challenges in front of Indian economic growth? Discuss sustainable ways to surpass them.   NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Government Budgeting, Taxation & its impact General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Providing safety-net: Pension for all Issue: According to a recent report by the World Economic Forum, the retirement savings gap in India is estimated to escalate to $85 trillion by 2050. And as most people in India do not have any kind of insurance and, as the population ages, it will also be pension less. The retirement savings gap will not only affect the quality of life of retirees, but can also pose macroeconomic challenges. As the proportion of retirees rises in the population, a shortfall in retirement income will affect consumption and growth. It will also affect fiscal sustainability as governments will have to spend more on retirees even in countries that do not have a state-funded retirement system. What is NPS? NPS (National Pension System) is a defined contribution based Pension Scheme launched by Government of India with the following objectives- To provide old age income Reasonable market based returns over long run Extending old age security coverage to all citizens It is based on a unique Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) which is allotted to each Subscriber upon joining NPS. What is required? In order to improve financial security the policymakers should focus on three key areas— Providing a safety- net pension for all. Improving access to retirement plans Encouraging initiatives to increase the rate of contribution. Providing safety-net pension for all: It should be the responsibility of the government to provide a pension income for all citizens that acts as a ‘safety net’ and prevents those who miss out on other forms of pension provision from dropping below the poverty line. Challenges: Fiscal constraints. The biggest problem for India is that about 90% of the workforce is in the unorganized sector and lacks proper access to retirement-saving instruments. The pension challenge in India will be fairly acute. According to the UN Population Division, the share of population aged 60 or above will rise to 19% by 2050, compared with 8% in 2010. Even those who are investing may not be aware how much money they will need after retirement and what it takes to attain that goal. People generally lack the ability to make complex calculations and give more importance to their near-term needs than a longer-term requirement like retirement saving. Steps taken by government: A pension regulator was established in 2003. New government employees (except in the armed forces) have been moved to a defined contribution-based National Pension System (NPS) from 2004. The NPS was opened to all citizens on a voluntary basis in 2009 and the government offers tax benefits to contributors. Budget 2014-15 had announced such a scheme, post which Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) had launched its single premium Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana. That scheme collected over R7,000 crore and offered lifelong pension at 9.3% per annum, providing monthly pension of R500-5,000. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, in his 2015 budget speech, announced steps for creating a social security system. This included insurance and pension schemes, mostly for the underprivileged segments of society. Recent developments: A new Rs 5,000-crore pension formula is in process. It is expected to benefit more than five million central government employees. The new formula will calculate pension based on the latest drawn salary for a particular post. The new method was fixed by an empowered committee of secretaries (Ecos) headed by secretary (pensions). The seventh pay commission recommended that pension could be calculated by two methods: Pension would be 50% of the last salary and multiplied by 2.57. An incremental method where pension was fixed at the last salary drawn with adjustments of increments drawn in that particular pay band. However, the incremental method was found to have lacunae as 20% of records were found to be missing in various government departments, and officials felt this could lead to litigation in future. To avoid legal hurdles, the Ecos came up with the pay fixation method. What more needs to be done? Creating awareness: Both the government and the makers of retirement products must place adequate emphasis on spreading awareness. The pension products must be simple and easily available. Technology can play a big role in making products available to savers. In India, generating more employment in the formal sector will help address the problem to some extent. As the government lack fiscal space, we will need to work on increasing retirement savings. Mobilizing savings for retirement could be a big opportunity as it would provide long-term solution. Connecting the dots: As per a UN report the share of population aged 60 or above will rise to 19% by 2050 in India. Discuss the challenges related to the pension for the aged population given fiscal constraint of the government. Outline steps taken by government in this regard. Also elaborate on what more needs to be done. 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Jun 9, 2017 AIR

All India Radio - First Indian Ocean Rim Association Summit

First Indian Ocean Rim Association Summit ARCHIVES Search 7th March 2017 http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests The First IORA summit was held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2017. About IORA: The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), formerly known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative and Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, bringing together representatives of Government, Business and Academia, for promoting co-operation and closer interaction among them. It has got 21 member states, including Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, UAE, and Yemen. It is thus a very diverse group consisting of members from Africa to South East Asia. It is based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic Cooperation as well as Social Development of the region. It was in 2011 that it got lot of momentum when the name was changed to IORA. Objectives of IORA: To promote sustainable growth and balanced development of the region and member states To focus on those areas of economic cooperation which provide maximum opportunities for development, shared interest and mutual benefits To promote liberalisation, remove impediments and lower barriers towards a freer and enhanced flow of goods, services, investment, and technology within the Indian Ocean rim. Areas of Cooperation Six  Priority Areas— 1) Maritime safety and security: Freedom of navigation in Indian Ocean by maintaining safety and security of sea lanes in Indian Ocean 2) Disaster Reduction & Management: Coordination in the Search and Rescue Operation, conducting workshops to share experiences on disasters frequenting the areas Management of cyclones, monsoon floods and Oil spills through joint training and solutions 3) Trade and Investment: Striving for Blue-Economy through closer interaction with other regional organizations. It is an area that directly impacts upon job creation, poverty alleviation and economic development, and contributes to the objective of promoting sustainable and balanced economic growth in the region. 4) Fisheries Management: Regulation of fishing activates in coastal waters as the total stock of fishes in the ocean has been declining because of too much exploitation. Harvesting fish stocks in sustainable manner (No fishing during breeding season) Combating illegal fishing and damaging fishing techniques (e.g. Use of very fine nets, Trawling issues) 5) S&T-Academic Cooperation: Through exchange of ideas between the Academic and Business Forums. This becomes important as the issue of climate change, environmental issues is becoming more and more prominent. 6) Tourism: Tourism-cultural exchanges: People to people as well as business contact. Jakarta Summit: The theme of the summit was “Strengthening Maritime Cooperation for a Peaceful, Stable and Prosperous Indian Ocean.” Importance of the summit: 2017 is the 20th year of formation of this group which is very important landmark. Till now the emphasis was more on economic integration and economic collaboration. Since the whole global scenario is changing the emphasis could shift more to security areas. The IORA needs momentum and the summit provided that momentum. Key takeaways: One of the main outcomes is issuing of strategic vision document, known as the Jakarta Concord, that “sets out a vision for a revitalized and sustainable regional architecture" and defines a broad framework to promote peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean. Adoption of "the Declaration on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism". Sharing of intelligence between agencies safeguarding the countries between members is very important. Challenges ahead: Security aspect: 80% of India’s energy imports happen through Indian Ocean, 40% of the world’s global trade traverse through Indian Ocean. Therefore security is paramount. As of now Indian Ocean Region is very peaceful and there is no rivalry unlike different parts of the world like South China Sea which has become the area of conflict because of China’s aggressiveness and the Pacific Ocean. The IORA members must focus more on security issues in the IOR. The members must ensure that there is no entry of foreign navy in a manner which can disturb the peace and tranquility of the region, otherwise they will be opening the region for competition which will eventually harm all the countries. Issue of piracy: International cooperation for anti piracy has been one of the fine success stories. Earlier in Somalia and Gulf of Aden etc there was the issue of piracy which have now been contained. The 2008 Mumbai attack where terrorists from Pakistan came through maritime route highlights the importance of maintaining seurity of the maritime sea routes. The task is difficult but doable if all the IORA countries cooperate. Pakistan's presence: Pakistan is not the member of IORA but indirectly influences the security in IOR because of Arabian Sea and the Gwadar Port. It should be watched closely by the member countries. It is also expected that more of Chinese presence will increase in Gwadar port. Thus for combating terrorism it is required that IORA member countries maintain pressure on Pakistan. China’s presence in Indian Ocean Aggression in SCS is a cause of issue China is developing a Blue Water Navy, they have an Aircraft carrier, and they have their presence in Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. The members of IORA want the peaceful rise of China, it is not about containment of China but about working with China and this would require cooperation among member countries. China should not be allowed to become assertive and aggressive in the IOR and hinder the security aspects of the region. China’s Maritime Silk route project somewhat overlaps with the IORA. India is not a party to MSR project. MSR is the project through which china wants to dominate the sea route and trade route. How to prevent the overlap. The way some of the coastal countries have embraced MSR is dangerous as In Sri Lanka for Hambantota port China gave $1billion as loan but there was no revenue generated, so Sri Lankan government has given the port to china on lease. It could be Chinese way of colonising small countries by first investing in them and then trying to get control over the port and inland facilities when those countries are unable to pay back. It is important that the countries who have embraced maritime silk route must understand what is likely to happen. They must be made aware of the fact that it is China who will be benefitted. We cannot expect that countries like Maldives and Sri Lanka will be exporting anything to China, it will only be Chinese goods and using these ports to connect to Europe and Africa. Further it must be kept in mind that China does not adhere to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Conclusion A collective effort and more coordination among the member countries is required to address security concerns in Indian Ocean region. At present there are no security issues in Indian Ocean region, however given rise in China' assertiveness, Pakistan's belligerence and the importance of Indian Ocean in terms of resource, it is important that a set of rules and regulations or code of conduct should be made so that it becomes difficult for any other outside power to violate those rules. IORA provides confidence to small countries like Mauritius and Angola and other places where India is dependent on oil imports. Thus India's role as net security provider in the region must be enforced further. The time has come to raise the bar on this particular organisation. Key Terms: Blue Economy: The blue economy encompasses in it- the “green economy” with focus on the environment and the “ocean economy” or “coastal economy”— with its emphasis on complementarities among coastal and island states for sustenance and sustainable development It can be defined as “Marine-based economic development that leads to improved human wellbeing and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities Connecting the dots: Outline the importance of IORA organization and discuss how challenges in the Indian Ocean Region can be tackled through cooperation. Also highlight the importance of India as key security provider in the region.

Jun 8, 2017 Important Articles

PRELIMS 2017 Exclusive: ECONOMY- IASbaba's 60 Day Plan Subject-wise Compilation!

Hello Friends The 60 Day Plan has ended but the real battle awaits. To add more strength, we present the second compilation of all ECONOMY questions of 60 Day Plan. This ends all the compilation from our side. Study well for Prelims :)  ECONOMY QUESTIONS COMPILATION- Download   POLITY- Click Here GEOGRAPHY- Click Here CURRENT AFFAIRS- Click Here ENVIRONMENT- Click Here SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY- Click Here HISTORY- Click Here

Jun 8, 2017 Important Articles

PRELIMS 2017 Exclusive: HISTORY - IASbaba's 60 Day Plan Subject-wise Compilation!

Hello Friends The 60 Day Plan has ended but the real battle awaits. To add more strength, we present the second compilation of all HISTORY questions of 60 Day Plan. Soon, other compilations will be published. HISTORY QUESTIONS COMPILATION Modern India- Click Here Ancient/ Art and Culture- Click Here POLITY- Click Here GEOGRAPHY- Click Here CURRENT AFFAIRS- Click Here ENVIRONMENT- Click Here SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY- Click Here

Jun 8, 2017 Important Articles

PRELIMS 2017 Exclusive: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - IASbaba's 60 Day Plan Subject-wise Compilation!

Hello Friends The 60 Day Plan has ended but the real battle awaits. To add more strength, we present the second compilation of all SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY questions of 60 Day Plan. Soon, other compilations will be published. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS COMPILATION- DOWNLOAD POLITY- Click Here GEOGRAPHY- Click Here CURRENT AFFAIRS- Click Here ENVIRONMENT- Click Here

Jun 8, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 8th June, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 8th June 2017 Archives INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 India and its neighborhood relations, International relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. SCO membership: Challenges & Opportunities Why in news? India and Pakistan are likely to become full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at the Astana summit on June 8-9, 2017. The addition of another 1.5 billion people would provide fresh excitement, for the SCO will now represent the voice of three billion people – half the world’s population. About SCO: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic, and military organisation. It was founded with the aim to strengthen relations among member states and promote cooperation in political affairs, economics and trade. Competing geopolitical ideas: India’s prolonged quest to join the SCO brings an enduring tension between seemingly competing geopolitical ideas that have animated India since the end of the Cold War: Where should Delhi pitch its tent? In the continental or maritime domain? Must India define itself as a Eurasian or Indo-Pacific power? What drove India towards SCO? Need to revamp relation with Central Asia. The presumed need to compete with other powers— provided the justification. With Pakistan blocking India’s access to the region, there is little that Delhi can do to decisively influence the geopolitics of inner Asia. Focus on building a multipolar world. Afraid of the so-called unipolar moment after the collapse of the Soviet Union, India joined the Russian campaign to construct a Eurasian coalition that would limit American power. India believed that Russia and China would provide an insurance against the presumed unreliability of America as a partner. This calculus saw India join the trilateral forum with Russia and China, the BRICS, the SCO and the AIIB. Challenges at SCO: Terrorism Combating terrorism, extremism and separatism are among the major objectives of the SCO. While China might talk the talk, it is unlikely to put any pressure, verbal or real, on Pakistan to stop supporting cross-border terrorism and separatism in Kashmir. To make matters worse, China might use the SCO to bring pressure on India to engage and negotiate with Pakistan on Kashmir in the name of “good neighbourliness” that SCO wants to promote regionally. As Russia draws closer to China and Pakistan, Moscow is unlikely to come to India’s rescue on Kashmir, as it used to in the past. Promoting connectivity The SCO is also focused on promoting connectivity and regional integration in inner Asia. Any hope that this might work to benefit India looks improbable for the moment. All SCO members are participating in the Belt and Road initiative, and the organization is the initiative's security guarantee. All this is a challenge as Delhi has refused to participate in the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing last month as China’s belt and road initiatives are about promoting Beijing’s economic, political and strategic interests — all of which run headlong into India’s territorial sovereignty and claim to regional primacy in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Opportunities at SCO: India could gain from SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) – manned by 30 professionals analyzing key intelligence inputs on the movements of terror outfits, drug-trafficking, cyber security threats and public information in the region that we in India know little about. Participation in SCO’s counter-terror exercises and military drills could be beneficial to the Indian armed forces. Profiting in terms of energy security would be critical, but the idea of a SCO “Energy Club” will gain full meaning only if Iran joins the grouping eventually. SCO might provide a rare opportunity for the militaries of Pakistan and India to share several multilateral tables – antiterrorism structure, military exercises etc. – under the SCO framework, which in many ways might change the regional climate and have a positive impact on Indo-Pak relations. India needs to adopt following strategy at the SCO: Prevent Pakistan and China ambushing Delhi on the Kashmir question at the SCO summits. India must remind the region that China is a party to India’s territorial disputes in Kashmir and is an ally of Pakistan. India should restrict to the SCO’s charter which prohibits the raising of bilateral issues. Delhi must also take advantage of the few diplomatic opportunities the SCO might present in intensifying engagement with Central Asian states. The SCO could also provide a forum to reduce India’s current frictions with China and Russia. Delhi must prepare itself to seize potential shifts in SCO politics over the longer term. The political turbulence generated by US President Donald Trump, and the implicit contradictions between Russian and Chinese interests, are likely to surface at some point. Even as they talk “multipolarity”, China and Russia are eager to cut separate bilateral deals with Trump. Russian and Chinese interests may also not be in total alignment in Central Asia. In the meantime, it should seek to benefit from maintaining a regional presence, tracking regional trends in security, energy, trade, connectivity and cultural interests. India should use the SCO atmosphere for building better convergences with China and Russia as well as to minimise the intensity of China-Pakistan alignment which actually undercuts India’s direct access to Eurasia. 'Indo-Pacific' - Another geopolitical theatre and yet another opportunity: India must be realistic about the limits to its role in a continental coalition led by Russia and China (read SCO). Thus, we need to strengthen efforts towards building India’s maritime partnerships. If geography constricts India’s forays into Eurasia, it beckons Delhi to build on its natural advantages in the Indo-Pacific. In Eurasia, the strategy must be to limit the damage from the Sino-Russian alliance and probe for potential opportunities. As the US becomes an unpredictable actor that is unable or unwilling to balance the heartland powers- China and Russia, Delhi must turn to Japan and Western Europe to secure its strategic interests. India must necessarily play in both Eurasian and Indo-Pacific space. Conclusion: To be sure, multiple conflicting interests would intersect at the SCO forum, ranging from regional and global issues to combating terrorism. India’s positions may sometimes be at odds with those of other countries which have been going along with the Chinese viewpoints. But India needs to adopt a strategy which helps her tide over challenges and tap the opportunities. Connecting the dots: India and Pakistan were recently given full membership of Sanghai Cooperation Organisation. As a full member of SCO India needs to adopt a cautious strategy. Discuss. Also outline the challenges and the opportunities that the forum provides. Also read: India and SCO   NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 3 Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. India’s neutrino opportunity What is INO? The India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) Project is a multi-institutional effort aimed at building a world-class underground laboratory with a rock cover of approx.1200 m for non-accelerator based high energy and nuclear physics research in India. It proposes to build an underground laboratory at Pottipuram in Bodi West hills of Theni District of Tamil Nadu. The initial goal of INO is to study neutrinos. Neutrinos are fundamental particles belonging to the lepton family. If the project is cleared, INO would house the largest magnet in the world, four times more massive than the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN’s Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector’s magnet. How the idea developed? In 1960s and 1970s, a group of scientists from TIFR detected some unusual experimental observations, the so-called Kolar events in the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) in Karnataka. But they still remain as science fiction, yet to be explained and unravelled. In 1980s, a possibility of neutrino observatory located in India was sowed and in 2002 initiation was made to make it a reality. Since then, fast-paced developments have taken place in neutrino physics. Importance of studying neutrinos Neutrinos are almost massless that travel at near light speed. Their birth is as a result of violent astrophysical events such as exploding stars and gamma ray bursts. Because of it, they are abundant in the universe, and can move as easily through matter as we move through air. They are very difficult to track down. If one holds their hand towards the sunlight for one second, about a billion neutrinos from the sun will pass through it. This is because they are the by-products of nuclear fusion in the sun. Neutrinos hold the blueprint of nature. The INO aims to understand some of the unsolved mysteries of the universe by understanding the neutrinos. The issue In March 2017, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) suspended the environmental clearance (EC) granted to the INO and has ordered to file a fresh application for clearance. This was because new facts were found that the proposed INO lab was situated about 4.9 km from Madhikettan Shola National Park in Idukki district of Kerala. Also, as it is within 5km of the interstate boundary, it becomes a category A project. This will require clearance under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 from the National Board for Wild Life along with Environmental Clearances. Even at the earliest, India shall be able to complete the construction of its underground laboratory by 2022. This is way behind china which is expected to open its neutrino observatory in 2019. The procedural lapses and assumptions about the project’s agenda have made a project of this scale hard to make positive developments in field of scientific research in India. Challenges posed by INO? According to its critics, the explosives used in construction are a threat to the highly sensitive ecology of the Western Ghats. It is also alleged that relevant radiation safety studies for carrying out the long baseline neutrino experiment in the second phase of INO have not been done. How are they being addressed? The proposed excavation is planned to be carried out by a controlled blast, limiting the impact of vibrations with the help of computer simulations. The INO involves building an underground lab by accessing it through 2 km-long horizontal access tunnel, resembling a road tunnel which are found extensively across India. In the second phase, the INO project initially had planned to be set up as a far detector for the Neutrino Factory. But this may not be necessary as because of the discoveries already being made in the field. Conclusion: The 1500 crore investment is not a waste of money as some call it so. In past 50 years, more than half the Nobel Prizes in physics have been awarded to basic research in particle physics, including the 2015 Prize for the discovery of neutrino oscillations. Many allegations about neutrinos being radioactive particles and INO doubling up the storage of nuclear waste are undermining India’s efforts in the world to make pioneering research in science. The public apprehensions in such projects are totally understandable. Hence this requires more communication between the scientific community and the public. A project of such magnitude and such goal requires to generate public support, especially from the younger ones. Connecting the dots: There has been recently a mention of establishment of INO in India. What is INO and what is its significance? Identify the challenges faced and possibility of mitigating them. 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